Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-11


OF force during temporary rush. Then the
number OF apprentices is Increased In proportion
tanned. Some OF the offices nave so many appren-
tees that In the summer season they furiough
them without pay. The union has awakened to
the existence or this evil OF an excess Of appren-
tees, and Is now preparing to deal with it. Some
proper measures OF protection will be adopted"
THE FAULT WITH THE EMPLOYERS.
Referring to the criticism that the restrictions
imposed upon apprenticeship operate to curtail
the number of American skilled workmen, and
force employers to obtain skilled labor from
abroad, Mr.. Marston said with some warmth:
''rhat is not the fault OF the union, 1t Is the
fault OF employers. 1t is a common custom for an
apprentice to be kept at some one branch of his
trade because, perhaps, he man1tests an aptitude
for that work. 1t saves the employer some money,
and the apprentice works out his time at that one
branch; or course then he Is not skilled wOrkmen,
except In that one branch HeiS not printer. The
fact Is that employers are Indifferent as to the
their trade properly or not. II employers would
manifest proper interest the apprentices could be-
come proficient workmen. 1t has been suggested
that apprentices ought not to be permitted In the
daily newspaper Offices, in the morning paper
offices anyhow, because they cannot learn the
printing trade there. They learn only one branch
OF it. But the whole subject win receive due
attention in the union"
SIS it d question that is regulated locally BY
each union?" inquired The STAR reporter.
Eyes, That has been done, but the question has
become OF so much Importance that IL has been
cOnSlu0reO In The INTERNATIONAL Union, ana PROB
ably general or national regulation win be
made"
AN EMPLOYING PRINTERS VIEWS.
''You know Tor the past ten years and more our
firm has not been governed by the union" said a
member OF we'll known firm Of printers to STAR
reporter when asked his opinion OF the rules gov
erning apprentices. "But think them wrong in
principle. They do not permit OF necessary free
dom OF action between the employer and the
parent. Now, let me give you an Illustration:
I,,of hofO Str tk in
pened to visit a neighbOnng city, where l was In
vited to inspect the establishment OF acquaint-
place-I believe it was cigar or tobacco factory
and everywhere, and on all sides, were men en-
gagged in their work AS We LETT each floor I
thing Of this at the time. but when had COM
pleted my tour 1 sat down, and then 1T &C.
W e m s6as Of
think my friend employed somewhere in the
neighborhOod of two hundred men, and yet there
rules only permitted four apprentices even sues
a large place as this. A printer in some small
town hires one or two boys to assist him in his
business. He is not governed by the union and
pays no attention to it. for the reason that he
never has occasion to hire Journeyman After
these boys have been with him about t1o-thirds
his shop The boys are thrown out OF cOurse
and naturally they DRIFT into the cities where
Now isn't this manlrestly unjust7 You can see
that boys in the country have much better OBJ
portunlty than those In the city. believe in the
old style OF apprent1c1ng, putting the boy under
tndentures and making him serve out his time
AS IT is now man wants to get good 1ournymen
heS Obliged 10 send to Europe Tor them"
THE REMARKS OF ANOTHER "Boss" PRINTER,
"RestEction?" said member of another promi.
nent firm OF printers 81 don't think it has any
eject for the reason that there are very few an.
prentices nowadays"
"Why?" asked the reporter.
''Simply because they are absolutely worthless
a q pfiooov
your shop. and what little he learns he has to
scramble ior; then, too, in many cases the dspo-
s SUI, Oh tne apprentice Is such that before long
you nave 10 discharge him. What does he do?
On, ne travels from place to place until he has
nnished MS time or is twenty-one years OF age,
when he goes to the union, gets his card. and
blossoms out as Journeyman. But he is not a
good one" " "
"But where do you get the material for good
]ourneymen?" asked The ST AR reporter
From the country. 1t is true that ali they learn
mere Is now to stick type, regardless OF appear
aas,s1 3us snsy are generally more tractabe and
SIZE OF ours the union permits to have four boys
put, as you can see, we have now about eight. The
gun to serve his time he Is permitted to work it
out IN any shop, so that really out OF the eight
shops than mine"
THE OLD APPRENTICE SYSTEM.
In the first half OF the century legal appren.
tce system was in full force in the District and It
was by being 'bound out to learn a trade" that a
foundation was laid for success in life by the
o,dess mechanics ,fn stu living here The majority
not bound out in early life, served apprentice
ships but were not so firmly bound to their en-.
subject was that of Maryland (chap. az 17aaS
which empowers two justices Of the neace. In the
recess OF the Orphans Court, TO bind out orphan
chudren whose estates are not sufficient for their
support; II male TILL p years OF age and female
TN l6, to learn trade or business, and also to
daught This law set out aS out
followed, In which the trade or occupation was
specified, and IL was covenanted that the appren-
honestly and obediently behave himself to the
master and the rest OF the family. The master
an 10 instruct the apprentce in the
and cipher as far as the rule Of three to provide
MN meat, drink, clothing, and, at the expiration
stipulated sum OF money. It was re0uired That
the the, indentares should be MED In the Orphans
SGaI as Htnn Sas month after
cruel OF Improperly used said apprentice, any
judge or justice might, on information, take bis
court, TO answer any complaint OF the Apprentice
OF, m default, take such apprentice from his
master or mistress and place him under the care
the court The widow Of the master. II 1se 4m Ss
OF the apprentice had not expired, could sell his
oceeE IN the ana
must have 1 the approval Of the Orphans Court
1 naes sne act o. March 1s5s penalty or me Of
harooring. entertaining or selling liquor to any
apprentice The act OF 1793 also provided that for
away OF an apprentice the same nnes are imposed
as In cases for harboring slaves 100 pounds Of to-
bacco for each hour 30 harbored.
HOW TH1 LAW DxCANR UNPOPULAR.
| An old citizen, speaking on the general subject
| OF the old apprentice law, remarked to Q STAR
reporter that sixty years ago the law had already
commenced to die, for, as with slave owners there
| were some not the very best masters among the